LONDON, UK  [Tuesday Jul.5.2005]  /WMQT.com/ -- Paul McCartney got a little help from his friends Bono, the Edge, Adam and Larry to open the Live 8 show in London.

For the historic anti-poverty concerts, McCartney and U2 played the Beatles classic, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." They were joined on the stage by a horn section made up of four Beatles look-alikes dressed in colorful Sgt. Pepper's uniforms. As McCartney sang, "It was 20 years ago today," the 200,000-strong crowd at Hyde Park roared their approval.

McCartney said the idea to play "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" at the start of the London Live 8 concert was organizer and musician Bob Geldof's idea. The former Beatle agreed to do it because he thought it was "a good idea."

Live 8 took place on Saturday, July 2, 2005, and Live Aid occurred 20 years ago in 1985. Live Aid, which was also organized by Geldof, raised over $40 million for African famine relief.

McCartney said it was the first time "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" had ever been performed live.

One hour after it was played, Universal Music released the McCartney-U2 performance of "Sgt. Pepper's" worldwide as a digital download, with the proceeds benefiting Live 8. The recording can only be obtained online and will not be available in physical form.

The Live 8 "Sgt. Pepper" download can be purchased at over 200 online music stores and services including iTunes.

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